have not re-sequenced in this study, but that others reported to contain variants that are protective for nicotine dependence (Haller et al, 2012). Finally, we conclude that, in African-Americans, variants (common or rare) in genes other than CHRNA5 most likely contribute to the nicotine dependent phenotype, either independently or in combination with variants in CHRNA5. The functional significance, on CHRNA5 expression or protein function, of the variants found herein must be determined in future studies.
